Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

CHAPTER SEVEN
Lost and Found
JACK BLINKED AT CUTLER BECKETT’S new “assistant,” then glanced
around at the Wicked Wench, visually checking her status. The ship
was safely secured, but there were things he needed to do, such as
arrange for his cargo to be unloaded, and inform the crew about shore
leave. But this sounded urgent.…
“I’ll come directly,” he said. “Just let me speak to my first mate to
let him know about this.”
Mercer’s face never changed. He nodded, grudgingly.
Jack was back in moments, and the two men set off on foot, down
the gangplank, along the docks, then to the rutted mud of the streets,
heading up the hill toward the better section of town. Brushing
uselessly at a spot on his coat, Jack cleared his throat. “I hope Mr.
Beckett will understand that I haven’t had a chance to…freshen up.”
“That’s been taken care of,” Mercer said, flatly. The only distinctive
thing about his voice was his Scottish accent. Otherwise, his voice
was toneless, lacking any emotion.
Jack glanced at Mercer out of the corner of his eye. He was fairly
sure the man was carrying a brace of pistols beneath his coat. The
garment itself was cut so as to conceal them, but Jack knew where to
look. He’d carried pistols slung beneath his arms himself, a few times.
Who is this man that doesn’t even take a mile walk in broad
daylight on a public street without going out armed? What kind of
trouble can he be expecting? And WHY does Mr. Beckett need a
man like this to handle things for him?
Mercer strode along quickly, forcing Jack to lengthen his stride.
Even though Mercer was shorter than Jack, Jack’s gait was perforce
unsteady, since it had been many weeks since he’d been on dry land.
By the time they’d climbed the hill to Beckett’s home (Jack was